Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

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Recent Episodes

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Selects: How Mindfulness Works Saturday, January 11, 2025

What has become a buzz word for corporate retreats and a way to get a discount on your health insurance is, at its core, a powerful, centuries-old Buddhist method of moving through life and dealing with the suffering that inevitably comes along with it

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The Mysterious Story of Larry Bader Thursday, January 9, 2025

Larry Bader disappeared in 1957 and reappeared a few days later with a new identity. Was it a brain injury or a scam? To this day, nobody knows. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati

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Short Stuff: The Mad Trapper of Rat River Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Join us today to learn the story of The Mad Trapper of Rat River, Canada's largest and most intense manhunt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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GONG: The Chuck Barris Story Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Chuck Barris was a TV visionary, developing shows in the 70s that were decades ahead of their time. But was he also a covert assassin for the CIA? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa

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Selects: The Quinoa Revolution! Saturday, January 4, 2025

Quinoa is a trendy food, right alongside kale and anything else farm to table. But it's really an ancient grain. Although it's not exactly a grain at all. Technically it's a pseudo-cereal. But it is tasty and nutritious, a true superfood. Learn all abo

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How Saturn Works Thursday, January 2, 2025

Saturn is the fanciest planet thanks to its prominent rings, cocked jauntily to the side. But this showy gem of the solar system has a lot of substance in addition to a great sense of style. Learn what makes Saturn so interesting in this episode.<p

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Short Stuff: Watch Night Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Watch Night has been observed on New Year’s Eve by African-American Methodists in the US since 1862, to mark the passage of the Emancipation Act. But this religious holiday goes back even farther in history, with even more layers of meaning.See

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The Filthy Magic of Studio 54 Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Studio 54 was a nightclub, but really much more than that. It became a symbol of the times as much as anything else in the 1970s. Strap on your platform heels and get down.See omnystudio.com/listener

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Selects: The Three Christs of Ypsilanti Experiment Saturday, December 28, 2024

In the early 1960s, one of the most unethical experiments in psychology’s history was quietly conducted in a state hospital in Michigan. It sought to upend the delusions of the three patients involved, but ultimately disabused the experimenter of his o

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Forensic Dentistry Thursday, December 26, 2024

We've all heard it - local news reports identifying a body from dental records. But how does this work? Well, that's our job!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Short Stuff: Captain Santa Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Herman Scheunemann wasn’t the only captain carrying Christmas trees across Lake Michigan to Chicago at the turn of the last century, but he was the most beloved. Which makes this episode even sadder.See

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The 2024 SYSK Christmas Extravaganza! Monday, December 23, 2024

Welcome to the end of 2024 and our annual Christmas Extravaganza episode, brought to you ad-free for you listening pleasure. Please pour a hot toddy and enjoy around the fir tree of your choosing.See omn

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Selects: Frances Perkins: Influential and Unknown Saturday, December 21, 2024

Frances Perkins was an incredibly influential American yet is virtually unknown. What did she do? A lot! For instance, Social Security was her brainchild. And that's just the tip of the old iceberg. Explore her legacy with Josh and Chuck in this classi

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The Trivial Pursuit Trivia Edition Thursday, December 19, 2024

For our annual pre-Holiday-Special-holiday-episode-about-a-holiday-toy we are jumping into one of the greatest games of all time, Trivial Pursuit (and we’re not just saying that because there’s an SYSK edition). See <a href="https://omnystudio.c

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Short Stuff: Feed A Cold, Starve a Fever Wednesday, December 18, 2024

You know that old adage that you should feed a cold but starve a fever? It’s an ancient idea and what’s surprising is that it’s kind of correct. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.</

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Taylorism: Work Faster! Tuesday, December 17, 2024

If you’ve ever lost your job thanks to a management consultant coming through your company or been timed for how fast you work, you can thank Frederick Winslow Taylor, the father of scientific management. If that field sounds made up that’s because it

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Selects: The Texas City Disaster of 1947 Saturday, December 14, 2024

In 1947 the port town of Texas City, Texas became the site of the largest industrial disaster in American history. An enormous explosion blew ships out of the water, created a tidal wave that flooded the town, and killed hundreds of people instantly. F

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Tugboats: Pushing Their Way Around Since 1803 Thursday, December 12, 2024

Tugboats are amazing because they do the dirty work without much recognition. Well that's changing today - ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY TUG!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Short Stuff: Joro Spiders Wednesday, December 11, 2024

These invasive spiders are everywhere these days. But how did they get to the USA and are they harmful?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Ba-Gawk! How Peacocks Work Tuesday, December 10, 2024

If you’ve ever wanted to know why peacocks have such amazing feathers, why they’re not all called peacocks, and plenty of other neat stuff about peacocks, then perhaps this episode on peacocks is for you. See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/list